Nov., 1905 | 
A WINTER WITH THE BIRDS IN COSTA RICA 
157 
spreading, so that the hummingbirds could easily be shot with the auxilliary bar- 
rel or collecting pistol. From one ot these guava trees we collected fifteen species 
of hummers, among them several rare and exceedingly beautiful ones, as the min- 
ute, Microchera parvirostris , crimson with a snow-white cap, the grotesquely tufted 
and bearded Lophornis Helena , and the thorn-tailed Popelairia conversi — neither of 
these larger than a small bumble-bee and therefore much smaller than any of our 
North American species. 
Coliblanco, our next collecting place, is an estate belonging to Don Aurelio 
Lopez Calleja, of Cartago, on the lower slope of a mountain near the volcano of 
Turrialba, at an estimated altitude of about 6500 feet. With a good frame dwell- 
ing for our shelter and accommodation, kindly placed at our disposal by Don Au- 
relio, and a large clearing containing scattered trees of many kinds almost at the 
“back door,” a more convenient collecting place could scarcely be imagined. A 
ALFARO TAKING EGGS OF CONURUS PETZI FROM NEST OF WHITE ANTS 
faint idea of the beauty of our surroundings may be obtained from the accompany- 
ing photograph of a portion of the potrero, a few hundred yards from the house. 
But a photograph, however good, gives only a weak impression of the scene, for 
the striking and harmonious color-scheme is wanting and therein, not less than in 
variety of form, consists the glory of tropical vegetation, as presented in the moist 
and cool upland regions. Almost every tree has its own peculiar hue of green; some 
are golden, some nearly russet, others blue-green, yellow-green or deep olive-green, ac- 
cording to the species. Most of the trees bore flowering vines or epiphytes, while some 
were decked in blossoms of their own, notably the erythrina trees, whose flowers 
were of the most brilliant vermilion, red, orscarlet. These erythrina trees were fre- 
quented by two large and exceeding beautiful hummingbirds, Heliodora jacula 
and Eugeties spectabilis , of which good series were secured. In some parts of the 
potrero, chiefly on or near the water courses, magnificent tree-ferns, of at least 
